SINCE Legally Blonde Reese Witherspoon hasn’t come close to finding a part that’s comparably endearing or cute. Her character in This Means War isn’t going to win a popularity contest either.

A woman who dates two hunky men simultaneously, Witherspoon’s Lauren is indecisive, deceitful and shallow, not the most ideal characteristics in a romantic heroine.

The twist is that both men are secret agents and best pals (Tom Hardy and Chris Pine) who know of the other’s interest in Lauren and make a pact to let the ‘best man win’.

Cue stealth tactics, subterfuge and appropriation of CIA assets like drones, surveillance teams and tranquilizer darts (effective for putting the kaybosh on consummation).

It might sound fun but suffers from a lack of plausibility on any level - both practical and, more importantly, emotional. There isn’t a single genuine connection between any of the characters, and thus no reason to care who ends up with whom.

Both men seem to want Lauren for the same reason (she’s blonde and hot!) while she comes over as a dithering dipstick, despite the picture’s lame efforts to persuade us she’s actually a trailblazing feminist.

Meanwhile, director McG (Charlie’s Angels) fails to conjure up any exciting or original set-pieces so it falls flat as an action film. The only one to emerge with some credit is Hardy as the more soulful and rugged spy, in contrast to Pine’s smoothie himbo.